Luke 23:39-43 NLT
“39. One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “so you’re the messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while your at it!” 40. But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41. We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42. Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43. And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

1. A Defiant Heart
a. ”So you’re the messiah, are you? Vs.39b

b. “Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while your at it” Vs.39c

2 Peter 3:3: “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires”

2. A Repentant Heart
a. “Dont you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?” vs40

Proverbs 1:7- Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline

b. We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong vs.41

c. Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom vs.42

3. A grace-filled heart
43. And Jesus replied, “ I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise”.

James 2:17-18 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”